News Roundup 22 June 2023
Jun 22, 2023 • 4 min Read
Pimentel, Hontiveros hit rush to pass Maharlika bill over correctness | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Minority senators Koko Pimentel and Risa Hontiveros on Thursday fumed over the rush to pass the divisive Maharlika Investment Fund bill without respect for correctness.
In a statement, Pimentel – a lawyer and former Senate President – slammed the “tampering” of the Maharlika bill to remedy glaring errors in the version that secured the final approval of Congress.
The Maharlika bill, certified urgent by President Marcos Jr., was passed in Congress before sine die adjournment for the President’s upcoming State of the Nation Address (Sona) in July.
Pimentel wondered if the haste to pass the Maharlika bill is “being done solely to appease one individual’s desire, just so that person will have something to announce during the State of the Nation Address.”
Hontiveros said she would defer to constitutional lawyers to examine and challenge the constitutionality of correcting the Maharlika bill.
“But honestly, above and beyond the specific technical issue, what this speaks volumes about is the inordinate rush to pass a bill just to acquiesce to the wishes of the Executive. They were in such a hurry, and that’s why there are so many errors,” she said in a separate statement.
Full Story at: Pimentel, Hontiveros hit rush to pass Maharlika bill over correctness | Inquirer News
Teves wants DOJ prosecutors to inhibit from Degamo murder case | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is asking a panel of Department of Justice prosecutors to inhibit from handling the Pamplona massacre case.
In an urgent motion filed Thursday, Teves argued that no DOJ prosecutor could be unprejudiced in their investigation of the March 4 murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and 10 others.
The motion asserted that the DOJ prosecutors must inhibit “because their boss, the Secretary of Justice, has been firm in claiming that Teves Jr. is the mastermind in the death of Gov. Degamo, even prior to the filing of this case.”
“Unfortunately, in this case, no prosecutor under the Department of Justice (DOJ) can confidently and honestly say that they can resolve this preliminary investigation with fairness, impartiality, independence, and integrity as demanded by law and jurisprudence,” it reads.
Teves also said the DOJ must turn over the case to the Office of the Ombudsman, which should handle the preliminary investigation until its conclusion.
Full Story at: Teves wants DOJ prosecutors to inhibit from Degamo murder case | Inquirer News
NBI told to comment on habeas corpus plea for Marvin Miranda, alleged conspirator in Degamo slay | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to comment on the plea questioning the detention of Marvin Miranda, tagged as one of the masterminds in the brazen assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
In a one-page order released Thursday, the SC’s First Division directed the NBI to comment within ten days on the Petition for Issuance of Writ of Habeas Corpus filed by Conchita Miranda, seeking a release order for her son.
Habeas corpus literally translates to “produce the body.” It is an order to present a person before the court to determine if the arrest or imprisonment is legal or if the inmate must be released from custody.
The SC order stressed that the NBI has been directed to submit a comment and “not to file a motion to dismiss.”
‘Illegal arrest’
Conchita, reportedly the mother of Marvin as noted by state-run PTV4, also sought for a protection order to be issued in the interim to prohibit the NBI “from committing or attempting to commit any act violative of the rights” of Marvin. She also sought an order to “suppress any evidence which emanated from his illegal arrest.”
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has named Marvin Miranda, a military reservist, as a co-mastermind of suspended Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental) in the killing of Degamo in early March.
Full Story at: NBI told to comment on habeas corpus plea for Marvin Miranda, alleged conspirator in Degamo slay | Philstar.com
Bantag using police connections? PNP chides DOJ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) slammed a Department of Justice (DOJ) official yesterday for speculating that wanted murder suspect Gerald Bantag has continued to elude arrest because of his police connections.
Last Tuesday, DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano told media that Bantag – the former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief implicated in the murder of radio commentator Percy Lapid (real name Percival Mabasa) – has been receiving tips that have helped him elude arrest, suggesting that these came from his network “as a police officer.”
Refuting these allegations, Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan Jr., PNP Public Information Office chief, denied that Bantag was being protected by the police and clarified that he was never even a police officer.
“General Bantag has never been a member of the Philippine National Police. Based on record, he used to be a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) officer before his appointment in Bureau of Corrections,” Maranan said.
“We want to emphasize that irrespective of one’s rank, stature or source of commissionship of any officer, the PNP will arrest any individual who has violated the law,” he added.
Full Story at: Bantag using police connections? PNP chides DOJ | Philstar.com
